Gordon has paid his due respects, now it's his turn (cont'd)

"One of the things that he talks about a lot is when to race, how to race, at what point do you save your stuff and try to figure out your car and strategy, then you go at the end," Hendrick said. "Jeff, again, has had so much experience, it's not just the experience on the track, it's experience off the track, in how to handle your time, not burn yourself up, what commitments you need to take care of first. He's been a great mentor for all of the guys."

Now, true fans of the sport will focus on what is next for Gordon. Cale Yarborough won 83 races. Waltrip and Allison each won 84 times. Gordon is certain to pass them, leaving him third on the all-time win list behind David Pearson, with 105 victories, and Richard Petty, who won 200 races.

• Superstore: Jeff Gordon

Gordon is a newlywed. He and his wife will become parents this summer.

"I feel like his personal life right now is really focused. He's got a baby on the way. When people say, 'Is that going to slow him down?', I think he's got everything together, just like he's always wanted it," Hendrick said. "He's determined here in this championship run. He could have won some more races this year, but he and Steve [Letarte, crew chief] have done a great job ... when it's not exactly right, they'll work on it till they get it there. He's points racing and wants to win races, too. I think he's going to be a tough guy to beat this year."

That's an impressive statement. And I think Hendrick is right on with his assessment. I also think Gordon is motivated by the success of Johnson and the 48 team.

"Nobody wants to run second to a teammate," Hendrick said.

Teams will tell you whatever happens on Sunday, or Saturday night, is history by noon on Monday. If you lost, the sulking is over; if you won, the celebrating is finished. Jeff Gordon won at Phoenix and the celebrating is over. But is there something left lingering in the air? Anticipation? Tension? History?

Talladega is just days away.

"You know, sometimes I don't understand the fans. I [don't try] to figure them all out. I don't think there's any way you can," Hendrick said.

"Jeff was trying to pay tribute to a great champion, a fallen champion, at a time when it all could have been about Jeff Gordon winning that race. In tying him, he tried to [pay] tribute to a guy that's no longer here that was a true champion and all of us in the sport look up to. I think it was a great gesture.

"It was good to see [Dale Earnhardt] Junior come over in Victory Lane. Jeff was touched by it. It meant a lot to him to win the race at Phoenix. It meant a lot to tie Dale at that place. I think the majority of people I've talked to thought it was neat and a great tribute."

Sometimes it seems like even the winner just can't win. Seventy-six victories and counting for Jeff Gordon. You'll still hear the boos at driver introductions and the lukewarm reception he often gets for winning. Someday, it will change, the way it did for Darrell and Rusty [Wallace] and others. Maybe that someday will be this Sunday. Maybe not. But that's OK.

"[Jeff Gordon] takes it in stride," said Hendrick, in that calm, soothing authoritative voice of his.

"He's got a lot of fans that are loyal to him. You know, you're not going to get everybody to like you."

But it sure can be fun trying.

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.